Investigating Factors and Potential Biases that Might Help Explain the Overrepresentation of People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Amongst Missing Person Cases

Adrian Scott; Fiona Gabbert; Karen Shalev

Investigating Factors and Potential Biases that Might Help Explain the Overrepresentation of People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Amongst Missing Person Cases

Adrian Scott^*, Fiona Gabbert, Karen Shalev

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Goldsmiths, University of London

Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report

Abstract

In the 2019-20 UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) Annual Data Report, 23 forces in England and Wales reported investigating a disproportionate number of Black missing persons when compared to the general population (UK Missing Persons Unit, 2021b). For example, at that time, 14% of missing persons in the United Kingdom (UK) were categorised as Black, while census data indicated that Black people made up just 3% of the population (UK Government, 2020). The current research sought to understand why this might be.

Original language	English
Publisher	Home Office
Commissioning body	Home Office
Publication status	Accepted for publication - 31 Jan 2025

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Cite this

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title = "Investigating Factors and Potential Biases that Might Help Explain the Overrepresentation of People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Amongst Missing Person Cases",

abstract = "In the 2019-20 UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) Annual Data Report, 23 forces in England and Wales reported investigating a disproportionate number of Black missing persons when compared to the general population (UK Missing Persons Unit, 2021b). For example, at that time, 14\% of missing persons in the United Kingdom (UK) were categorised as Black, while census data indicated that Black people made up just 3\% of the population (UK Government, 2020). The current research sought to understand why this might be.",

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N2 - In the 2019-20 UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) Annual Data Report, 23 forces in England and Wales reported investigating a disproportionate number of Black missing persons when compared to the general population (UK Missing Persons Unit, 2021b). For example, at that time, 14% of missing persons in the United Kingdom (UK) were categorised as Black, while census data indicated that Black people made up just 3% of the population (UK Government, 2020). The current research sought to understand why this might be.

AB - In the 2019-20 UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) Annual Data Report, 23 forces in England and Wales reported investigating a disproportionate number of Black missing persons when compared to the general population (UK Missing Persons Unit, 2021b). For example, at that time, 14% of missing persons in the United Kingdom (UK) were categorised as Black, while census data indicated that Black people made up just 3% of the population (UK Government, 2020). The current research sought to understand why this might be.

M3 - Commissioned report

BT - Investigating Factors and Potential Biases that Might Help Explain the Overrepresentation of People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Amongst Missing Person Cases

PB - Home Office

ER -

Investigating Factors and Potential Biases that Might Help Explain the Overrepresentation of People from Ethnic Minority Backgrounds Amongst Missing Person Cases

Abstract

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